Are you tired of robot reading? So are we! As kids are learning to decode in first grade, it is often difficult to read with expression and gain meaning. My students, however, become dramatic little actors and actresses with Elephant and Piggie books, but we need more of them!
My students are first graders at a K-4 Charter School in Minnesota.
Our school population is 85% Latino, 9% African American, 4% American Indian, and 2% Caucasian. About 85% of the students in my class are English language learners. Our school's mission is to close the achievement gap, and get 100% of our students college ready. My students are kind, and caring individuals who love reading independently, reading with a partner, and being read to.
My Project
The students in my class absolutely adore the author Mo Willems and his "Elephant and Piggie" book series. With the simple, yet extremely expressive pictures, varying font sizes, color-coded speech bubbles and repetitive phrases, students of all reading levels can read expressively and understand what's going on in these hilarious children's books.
"Thank you, Mo Willems!" shouted one of my students as he looked to the sky, raising his hands up with gratitude. This, and many exclamations of "YAY!!!" are the reactions I receive after telling my first grade students I have a new Elephant and Piggie book to read to them. The problem is, I don't have enough of these books in our classroom library, and am often faced with looks of disappointment when students don't get their own copy to read during choice time.
With this new set of Elephant and Piggie books, every student in my class will be able to enjoy the silly adventures of these two best friends.
Your generous donation will help lay the foundation for my students to be lifelong readers and book lovers.
The Elephant and Piggie book series will bring joy and laughter to my classroom on a daily basis, as well as a contagious desire to read expressively for fun. Please help my students be able to read with expression, with emotion, and for enjoyment!
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Williams and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.